Garment and the like pressing machine



Oct. 25, 1955 F. c. LORNITZO GARMENT AND THE LIKE PRESSING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 16, 1953 INVENTOR. I ran% (3 Low/21720.

AT TORNEYS.

Oct. 25, 1955 F. c. LORNITZO GARMENT AND THE LIKE PRESSING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 16, 1953 Oct. 25, 1955 F. c. LORNITZO 2,721,406

GARMENT AND THE um; PRESSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1953 s sheets-sheet s AM 2 72A, 442 M87 /&5 Q /76' IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Ofiice 2,721,406 Fatented Oct. 25, 1955 GARMENT AND THE LIKE PRESSING MACHINE Frank C. Lornitzo, Pawtucket, R. I., assignor to Pantex Manufacturing Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application January 16, 1953, Serial No. 331,623

Claims. (Cl. 3841) The invention relates to improvements in a pressing machine for garments and the like, particularly a pressing machine in which the head or one of the pressing members is moved toward the buck or other pressing member by air power.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine so constructed as to permit the operator to arrest the movement of the head at any point in its path of movement toward the buck.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine so constructed as to permit the operator to cause the head to be moved toward the buck by a step-by-step movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine so constructed as to permit the operator to arrest the movement of the head at any point in its path of travel toward the buck and lock the said head against movement in either direction at said point of arrest.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine so constructed that the controls for operating the air power will be located at such position as to be readily available to the operator at any position in front of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine so constructed as to permit the operator by a single movement to release the head from pressing relation and to set into motion a moisture removing portion of the pressing machine.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a machine so constructed as to permit the operator to cause the head thereof to be moved against the garment with a light pressure and thereafter apply an increased predetermined pressure.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a machine which will employ air power to initially move the pressing head into engagement with the work and thereafter apply a predetermined pneumatic initiated hydraulic force for the pressing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine having combined pneumatic and hydraulic forces in which the control of said forces will be spaced from each other so as to require usage of both hands of the operator to set the said forces in operation simultaneously.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a garment pressing machine shown partly in section and illustrating one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a central sectional view of a hydraulic cylinder used for checking the movement of the head toward and from pressing relation;

Figure 3 is a similar View but showing certain parts of the cylinder in a different position than that shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a pressure controlled valve;

Figure 5 is a central sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows thereon;

Figure 6 is a central sectional view of the primary control valve of the machine;

Figure 7 is a fragmental view of the upper portion of the inner cylinder of the hydraulic cylinder shown in Figure 2; and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the various valves by which the fluid system of the above machine is controlled.

I have shown in the drawings an embodiment of the invention as applied to a pressing machine of a generally known type having a frame 15 (Figure 1) for support ing various elements of the machine. The said frame 15 has a column or support 16 on which is mounted the stationary member or so-called buck 17 on which the garment to be pressed or treated is positioned. The head or movable presser member 18 is secured to a rockable lever designated generally 19 which is pivotally mounted on the frame 15 as at 24 providing an arm 21 extending forwardly of said pivot 2e and an arm designated generally 22 extending rearwardly of said pivot 20. The head 18 is fastened to the end portion of the arm 21 in any suitable manner to be moved by said lever to and from said buck 17. The lever 1? is resiliently biased to a raised position by means of a compression spring 23 acting through a rod 24 attached to the arm 22 as at 25. The head 18 is of the type provided with a steam conduit chamber therethrough (not shown), one wall of which is the pressing side of the head and perforated for the discharge of steam on to the garment to be pressed or steam treated.

The buck 17 is of the type through which suction may be applied to draw moisture from the garment after the pressing or treating operation. The buck 17 is connected to a vacuum-producing source through a valve or the like device 26 which may be controlled in a manner to be hereinafter described in detail.

A fluid operated means, preferably an air motor 27, is employed in the present disclosure for rocking the lever 19 to move the head 18 towards the buck 17. The motor 27 may be of simple construction having a cylinder 28 in which a reciprocating piston 29' (see Figure 8) is moved by the application of air thereto under pressure. The motor 27 is pivotally mounted at its lower end on the frame 15 as at 29 so as to extend generally vertically with its piston rod 30 (Figure 1) extending into pivotal engagement with the arm 22 as at 31 to apply an upward force on said arm 22 to rock the lever H and move the arm 21 in a downward direction. The arm 22 has a lever portion 32 which is pivotally attached to the portion 33 of the arm 22 as at 34. The lever 32 extends from the pivot 34 to engage an adjustable stop screw 35, the rod 30 being pivotally attached to the other end of said lever 32 carried by the said portion 33. It will be understood that both pressing members have a backing or resilient covering as is usual in a pressing machine of this type.

The flow of air under pressure to and from the motor 27 is controlled by means of a primary control valve indicated generally 36 (Figure 8) and best seen in section in Figure 6. This primary valve comprises a body 37 having a central conduit 38 therethrough which is reduced at its middle portion as at 39 providing outer conduit portions 40, 41 spaced by the reduced conduit portion 39. An inlet conduit 42 intersects the conduit portion 40. A discharge conduit 43 intersects the conduit portion 39, and a vent conduit 44 extends to the atmosphere from the conduit portion 41. The inlet and outlet conduits 42, 43 are internally threaded as at 45, 46, respectively, to receive proper fittings and the like to connect the valve 36 in the air line of the machine and which air line is indicated diagrammatically in Figure 8. The ends of the reduced conduit portion 39 form opposite valve seats 47, 48, each of which is engageable by a ball valve 49, 50. These valves are connected to be moved in unison by a spacer or pin 51 which is made of a length so that when the valve is seated, the valve 49 will be unseated, and in the reverse order when the valve 49 is seated, the valve 50 will be unseated. A closure 52 having a bore 53 threadedly engages the bore portion 40 and a compression spring 54 is received in said bore 53 for engagement with the ball valve 49 to urge and hold the same normally against the said seat 47 and thereby closes the conduit 39 from the inlet conduit 42. A closure 55 having a central bore 56 threadedly engages the bore portion 41 and receives a stem 57 which extends into engagement with the ball valve 50. This stem 57 extends beyond the closure 55 and upon moving the stem 57 inwardly will move the ball 50 against the seat 47 to close the conduit 39 to the vent openings 44. Moving the ball valve 50 to seated position will move the ball valve 49 to open position to open conduit 39 to inlet conduit 42 whereby air will now flow past the ball valve 49 to discharge through conduit 43. Upon release of the pin 57, the ball valve 49 under urge of the spring 54 will be moved to seated position and block the flow of air from conduit 42 to conduit 39. The ball valve 50 will be moved to unseated position and open the conduit 44 to a return flow from discharge opening 43 and conduit 39 to vent to the atmosphere through the openings 44.

The valve 36 is positioned to be at the front of the machine at a location beneath the table top 60 of the machine (see Figure l) and is secured in place in any appropriate manner so that the projecting portion of the pin 57 will be uppermost as shown. A manually controlled lever 61 of the first class is pivotally attached to the under side of the table 60 as at 62 and has an arm 63 which extends to a location opposite the said pin or stem 57. The other portion of the arm 64 of the lever 61 extends forward of the pivot 62 to adiacent the front edge of the table 60 and has a handle 65 attached thereto. This handle 65 extends the entire length of the said table 60 to be at a position to be readily engageable by either hand of the operator at any position he may be in at the front of the machine. Moving' the handle 65 upwardly will swing the arm 63 downwardly to engage and move the pin 57 to seat the valve 50 and unseat the valve 49 to open the air line to the motor 27 to move its piston outwardly as seen in Figure. 1 to rock the portion 22 of lever 19 upwardly and thus the head 18 downwardly into pressing relation with the buck 17.

The. swing of the lever 19 in either direction is relatively fast, and it is desirable to check or dampen this movement of the lever near the end of its movement in either. direction. To this end a hydraulic motor desig natedv generally is provided (see Figure 1). This motor is attached at its lower end to the pivot 29 and its piston rod 71 is attached to the pivot 31. Thus as the arm. 22 is rocked upwardly, the rod 71 will be carried thereby outwardly of the cylinder.

Rocking the arm 22 in the other direction will move the rod 71 inwardly of the cylinder. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it will be seen that the motor 70 comprises a cylinder head 72 having an annular recess '73 reduced in diameter as at 74, 75, and '76, respectively, providing shoulders 77 and 78. The head 72 also has a bore 79 therethrough, the axis of which extends substantially parallel to the axis of the recess 73 and is reduced at its mid section as at 80. A conduit 81 extends between the upper portion of the bore 79 and the reduced recess portion 74. A similar conduit 82 extends. between th lower portion 79 of the bore 79 and the reduced recess portion 76 A conduit 83 extends between conduits 81, 82 and is controlled by a spring urged ball check 84 to provide one-way communication between the conduits 81 and 82.

An outer cylinder sleeve 87 threadedly engages the upper portion of the recess 73 and is sealed against leakage to the atmosphere by a packing ring 88. A closure cap 89 having an open center 90 is threadedly received at the upper portion of the sleeve 87. An inner cylinder sleeve 91 is received in the reduced recess portion 75 to bottom against the shoulder 78 and is secured in position as by means of a tight frictional engagement with the walls of said reduced portion 75. A packing 92 seals the sleeve against leakage between the same and the walls of said recessed portion 75. The bore of the sleeve 91 is enlarged at the lower end portion providing an annular shoulder 93. The inner wall of the sleeve 91 at the upper end thereof is enlarged to frictionally receive a guide 95, the upper portion of which guide is enlarged as at 96 to engage the inner wall of the outer sleeve 87 so as to support and maintain said inner sleeve 91 concentric with the outer sleeve 87. A disc or bafiie 97 having a central opening 98 is positioned against the upper edge of the guide and the bottom of the closure 89 and is thereby secured in position whereby said inner sleeve 91 and bafiie 97 are firmly secured in place to each other and the sleeve 91 is secured to said head 72. Thus, there is provided a cylinder bore 99, the walls of which are surrounded by an annular chamber 100 which extends in continuation of the recessed portion 74 to provide a hydraulic fluid reservoir. The upper end of chamber 100 is vented to the atmosphere by means of openings 101 which extend through the enlarged head portion 96 which opens to the atmosphere through openings 98, 90.

The upper end portion of the sleeve 91 has a plurality of radial openings 102 therethrough to provide passages from the bore 99 to chamber 100. The openings are arranged about the sleeve 91 in a helical fashion (see Figure 7) and may be of equal size but preferably the lower of said openings are made somewhat larger.

The lower end of the cylinder bore 99 opens into the recessed portion 76, and the passage from said bore 99 into said recess is controlled by means of a discl-ike valve member 103 having a hub portion 104. The member 103 is received in the bore 99 to be slidably moved therein between the shoulders 78 and the shoulder 93. The hub portion 104 engages against the shoulder 78 to control the entrance to said chamber 99 at the edges of the said recess 76. The valve 103 is also pro vided with a plurality of openings 105 at the peripheral edge thereofv whereby when said valve 103 is moved out of engagement with the shoulder 78, passages from recess 76 to bore 99 are provided through these openings 105. The valve 103 is also provided with a projection 1 06 extending inwardly into the bore 99. This projection 106 is of a conical formation and has a bore 107 extending therethrough to open into the recess 76 and provides a continuously open passage between the bore 99 and the recess 76.

The hydraulic piston 108 is slidably received in the bore 99 and is provided with a bore 109 which is reduced between its end portions as at 110 thus providing an upper flange portion 111 in which is formed an annular recess 112. The flange 111 is also provided with a plurality of openings 113 opening into the recess 112 whereby communication may be had in the space surrounding the reduced portion 110 and the walls of the cylinder bore 99. The rod 71 is reduced in diameter as at 114 providing a shoulder 115 and further reduced as at 116 providing a shoulder 117, the lower end of the reduced portion 116 being externally threaded. The piston 108 is received on the reduced portion. 116 to abut against the shoulder 117. A cup-like packing 118 is secured to the lower end ofthe Diston 108 as by means of a washer 119 and a jam nut 120 engaging the lower threaded portion of the said connecting rod 71. A check valve 121 surrounds the reduced portion 114 and is normally moved against the bottom of the recess 112 to close the openings 113 as by means of a spring washer 122 engaging against the shoulder 115 and the said check valve 121. The lower end of the piston rod also is provided with a bore 123 which when the piston is at its lower end as seen in Figure 2 will have its wall engage against the side of the conical member 106 to close the bore 107 thereof to the passage of fluid from the cylinder 99.

In moving the piston rod 71 upwardly from the position seen in Figure 2, the check valve 121 will be moved against the hydraulic liquid ahead of the piston 108 and the pressure against the valve will hold the same in the closed position. However, the hydraulic liquid in the cylinder ahead of the piston 108 will be free to move from said cylinder 99 through openings 1G2 and into the outer chamber 100, the liquid in said outer chamber being maintained at the level indicated by the dot and dash line 124 and under atmospheric pressure. Upon the closing of the lower of the openings 102 by the wall of the piston 108 as the same is being moved outwardly, the escape of liquid ahead of the cylinder 108 will be partially checked and gradually become more restricted in escaping into chamber 100 as the piston 108 is moved further in the same direction to close more of the said openings 102 until all but the uppermost openings indicated 102' has been reached, which will be at the limit of the initial upward movement of the arm 22. Thus the upward movement of the piston will be checked at the upper reach of its stroke and thereby dampen the downward swing of the head 18. The piston 108 in moving upwardly is without any checking action until the lower of the openings 102 have been reached and thereafter gradually checked to the end of its initial stroke. I have shown these openings 102 as being circular but other shapes of openings may be provided and arranged in a different manner providing that the same may be gradually closed to the escape of liquid therethrough. As the piston 108 moves upwardly, the liquid escaping or moving into chamber 100 will be free to flow in the conduit 81 past ball check 84 and to conduit 82 into recess 76. From thence the pressure of this liquid will move the valve 103 from the shoulder 78 and the liquid will now pass freely into chamber 99 on the opposite side or lower side of the piston 108 through the bore 107 and openings 105 in the check valve 103. Thus a free How of the liquid from chamber 100 into cylinder 99 will be had.

Upon closing of valve 49 and opening of valve 50 to vent the air from air motor 27 in a manner to be hereinafter described the lever 19 under action of spring 23 will swing in the opposite direction and the piston 108 will be moved inwardly of the bore 99. The movement of the liquid in the bore 99 beneath the piston 108 will act against valve 103 to seat the same, and the liquid will flow outwardly through bore 107 into recess 76, bore 82, through a control passage to be hereinafter described, and thence into conduit 81, recess 74, and into chamber 100. As the piston 108 descends and prior to uncovering all of the openings 102, there will be a free flow of liquid from chamber 100 through uncovered opening 102 and check valve 121 and into the portion of the bore above the piston 108. Thus, at the initial start of downward movement of piston 108, no restriction to the flow of liquid from and into cylinder 99 will be had. As the piston 108 approaches its downward limit of movement, the conical member 106 will be received in the bore 123 and the path of the outward flow of the liquid from beneath piston 108 will be upward into said bore 123 and out through bore 107. Further movement of the piston in the same direction will gradually reduce the space between the walls of bore 123 and the sides of the member 106 so as to gradually restrict the escape passage for the liquid, and when said walls become engaged, the escape of liquid from the cylinder 19 will be blocked and thereby bring the lever 19 to rest. It will be seen that the checking action on the piston is applied only at the end of the stroke thereof in either direction and that this checking action is not carried over upon the reversal of movement of said piston 108.

It is also desirable that this hydraulic cylinder be utilized to apply an additional pressure on the lever 19 subsequent to the checking action thereof. To this end a sleeve or cylinder 130 is threadedly received in the bore 79 and extends into frictional engagement into the reduced bore portion and is there sealed against leakage by a packing ring 131. Thus there is provided an annular chamber 132 surrounding the upper portion of the cylinder 130, which chamber 132 connects through conduit 81 with the recess portion 74 of the cylinder head. The upper portion of the bore of the cylinder is enlarged as at 133 and radial openings 134 provide passages between the chamber 132 and the enlarged bore portion 133. A hollow piston 135 is slidably received in the bore of the cylinder 130 and is resiliently urged to move to its upper position by means of a compression spring 136 positioned between said piston 135 and a closure member 137 which threadedly engages the lower end portion of the bore 79. The piston 135 extends into the enlarged bore portion 133 and provides therethrough a passage rom this enlarged bore portion 133 and the lower or bore portion 79'. Thus liquid may flow from one side or the other of the piston 135 through the hollow piston 135.

The movement of the piston 135 is controlled by means of an air cylinder 138 which has a stem 139 threadedly attached to the cylinder 130. The stem extends into the enlarged bore portion 133 and provides a stop to be engaged by the upper edge of the piston 135 at the upper limit of travel thereof. The stem 139 has a bore 140 therethrough, the lower end of which is enlarged as at 141 and in the walls of which ports 142 are provided for the passage of liquid from the piston 135 into the bore portion 133. The air cylinder 138 has a piston 143 provided with a plunger 144 which is slidably received in the bore 140 and sealed against leakage by means of a packing 145. The piston 143 is resiliently biased to the upper position thereof by means of a compression spring 146 acting on the lower side thereof and the bottom wall of the cylinder 138 and is of a diameter slightly larger than the bore of piston 135. Air under pressure is supplied to the cylinder by a conduit 147 which may be attached to the air cylinder by a suitable coupling or fitting 148. The piston 135 at its uppermost position is above the ports 142, and the hydraulic fluid from piston 135 passes through said ports to said bore 133 and through openings 134 into chamber 132 and out thereof into recess 74 and therefrom into chamber 100.

Assuming the head 18 to have been moved to the set initial work-pressing relation with the buck 17 and the initial pressure provided is not sufficient for the particular character of the work acted upon, air pressure is applied in piston 143 to move the same inwardly for its plunger 140 to engage against the piston 135 and thereby close the bore thereof and block the passage of fluid therethrough into bore 133. Further movement of piston 143 in the same direction will move piston 135 against the pressure of the fluid therebetween and lower side of piston 108 and thus apply a hydraulic pressure on said piston 108 to move the same further upwardly and the head 18 into firmer engagement with the work on the buck 17. Further movement of the piston 135 in the same direction will further move the head 18 on to the work to increase the pressure thereon. Thus any pressure within the capacity of the machine may be applied on the work and this controlled by the air pressure applied on the piston 143. The fluid ahead of the piston 108 upon further upward movement of the piston- 108 will escape into chamber by means of the uppermost opening indicated 102'.

The application of air pressure on piston 143 may be made at any position of travel of the piston 108 to arrest its downward movement. Thus as the piston 108 is moving upwardly, air pressure may be applied on piston 143 to move the same inwardly for its plunger to engage and move the piston and thereby close the bore thereof and block the passage of fluid into bore 133 and thereby the escape of fluid from the portion of the bore 99 beneath the piston 108. Further movement of the piston 108 in the same direction will not be arrested because of the free passage of fluid from the portion of the bore 99 above the piston 108 through opening 102 into chamber 160 and thence through conduit 81, check valve 84, and conduit 82 to fill the increasing space in the portion of the bore 99 beneath the piston 108. Upon the release of air pressure of air motor 27, the piston 108 will come to rest as its downward movement is blocked by the fluid contained in said portion of the bore 99 beneath the said piston 108 and blocked against displacement at the plunger 144.

The air supply to cylinder 138 is controlled by means of a primary control valve which in the present embodiment of the invention is secured to the head 18 as shown in Figure 1 (see also Figure 8). This valve 150 is manually controlled and provides with the hand control lever 61 a safety arrangement requiring both hands of the operator to be in engagement with both of these controls in order to apply the said additional compressing pressure to the head 18. The control valve 150 (see Figures 4 and 5) comprises a body 151 having a bore 152 extending inwardly from one end thereof. The inner portion of the bore 152 is reduced as at 153 providing a shoulder or valve seat 154. A check valve in the form of a sleeve 155 is received in the bore 152 and threadedly secured in position as at 156 and extends to adjacent the said valve seat 154. A packing ring 157 is positioned between this inner portion of the sleeve and the wall of the bore 152 to seal the same against leakage past the adjacent surfaces. The sleeve 155 has a guide bore 158 extending therethrough which is enlarged as at 159 and further enlarged as at 160 providing a valve seat 161 between the enlarged portions 159 and 160. The outer side of the sleeve is reduced as at 162 so as to provide an annular chamber 163 surrounding the mid portion of said sleeve 155. Radial conduits 164 provide passages between the said chamber 163 and the enlarged bore portion 159. An inlet conduit 165 extends inwardly from one side of the body 151 to open into the reduced bore portion 153 and an outlet conduit 166 opens into the chamber 163. The inlet conduit is provided with a fitting or connection 167 to place said valve in the air line by means of a conduit 168. The exhaust valve is similarly furnished with a fitting 169 to which is fastened a conduit 170.

The flow of air under pressure from inlet 165 to the discharge outlet 166 is controlled by a pair of check valves 171, 172 which are telescopically related as at 173 and between which a compression spring 174 is positioned to resiliently bias the valve 171 against the seat 154 and the valve 172 against the seat 161. Each valve is independently moved from its seat and normally resiliently held in the seated position thereof. The valve 172 has a stem 175 which is guided in the bore 158 and extends outwardly thereof. A manually operated lever 176 is pivotally secured to the body 151 as at 176 and has a finger 177 depending therefrom to be opposite the outward end of the stem 175. Rocking the lever in a downward direction will move the finger 177 into engagement with the stem 175 to move the same inwardly and unseat the check valve 172. Upon release of said lever 176, the same will return to initial position by means of springs 174. Air under pressure from inlet 165 will move the check valve 171 from its seat and air will flow past said check valve into chamber 163. It may be here stated that the check valves are rectangular in cross section providing with the wall of the bore portion 160 spaces for the air to flow past the valves when in the open position. The valve is also provided with a vent conduit 178 which is enlarged and threaded as at 179 to threadedly receive a sleeve 180. The bore of the sleeve provides a valve chamber 181 having an opening 182 to the atmosphere and about which a valve seat 183 is formed. The outer portion 184 of the opening 182 is tapered inwardly. A check valve 185 is positioned in said chamber 181 and is of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of said chamber. The valve 185 is resiliently biased to engage said seat 183 and is provided with a stem 186 which projects loosely through the opening 182 and outwardly of the sleeve 180. The stem may be rocked axially to tip the valve 185 from the seat 183 thus opening conduit 178 to the atmosphere.

In order to automatically control the venting of valve 150 upon release of lever 176 and thereby the air pressure in the air system of the machine as will hereinafter appear, a finger 187 is pivotally attached to the lever 176 as at 188 to project therefrom into engagement with said stem 186 when said lever is in the raised position to tip the stem as shown in Figure 5 and thereby tip the valve 185 from its seat 183. To assure the proper engagement of the stem and finger, the latter is provided with a chisel end 189 to engage in a groove 190 provided in the said stem 186. 'When the lever 176 is swung downwardly to open valve 150 to air pressure, finger 187 will be carried therewith out of engagement with stern 186.

When it is desired that the air system of the machine be vented other than through the valve 150 for reasons of operation as will hereinafter appear, the finger 187 may be swung about its pivot 188 to a position indicated in dotted lines 187' (Figure 8) whereby said valve 185 will be free of said finger 187 and resiliently held in the closed position. It is also desirable that the air pressure enter ing said valve 150 be known and to this end a pressure gauge 192 (Figure l) is attached to the valve and a conduit 193 extends from the chamber 163 to said gauge.

Additional means are provided for venting the air system of the machine. One of such means is a bleeder valve 194 (see Figure 1) which is attached to the machine as by means of a bracket 195 to locate the valve 194 in a position to be operated by a foot treadle 196. Upon rocking said foot treadle, the valve 194 will open the system to the atmosphere. The vacuum valve 26 is also controlled by means of this foot treadle 196 through a rod 197 connected at its upper end to a lever 197 rockably to engage the control plunger 26 of the valve. The rod 197 extends into engagement with the said treadle to raise the same and rock said lever 197 and operate said valve 26. Thus, upon rocking of the treadle 196 in the proper direction, the air system will first be vented and further movement of the treadle in the same direction will set the vacuum valve in operation.

The operation of the several parts of the machine has been indicated in connection with the detailed description thereof. Reference to the diagrammatic showing of Figure 8 may be had for the operation of the machine as a whole. It is assumed that the head 18 of the press is in raised position and is to be lowered on the work positioned on the buck 17, the arm 64 of lever 61 is manually raised, which moves the valve 50 to its seat to close normally open vent 44 and to move valve 49 from its seat and condition the primary control valve for the passage therethrough of air under pressure through supply line 200. Air under pressure will now flow through conduit 201 to the lower end of air motor 27 to act against piston 29 to raise the same and its connecting rod 30 to rock the arm 22 of lever 19 upwardly through connection 31. Air under pressure will also flow to reducing valve 202 and from said valve through conduit 203 to inlet 165 of valve 150 and move check valve 171 from its seat. Further flow of the air in this direction will be blocked by the closed valve 172. The upward swing of arm 22 will through connections 31 pull the piston rod 71 outwardly of the hydraulic cylinder 70 and thereby raise the piston 108 against the liquid therein, the liquid in the bore 99 moving freely from one side of the piston to the other through openings 102, chamber 100, conduit 81, past valve 84, into conduit 82 and past valve 103 into lower portion of bore 99. When the piston 108 has been moved to the upper portion of said bore 99, the piston 108 will cover the openings 102 progressively, and the outward flow of fluid in bore 99 ahead of piston 108 will become gradually restricted and thereby place a gradually increasing resistance to the movement of the lever 19 and dampen the movement of the head 18 as the same approaches the work. Upon the head 18 coming to rest at the initial set pressing position thereof, the piston 108 will have been raised to nearly the location of the uppermost openings 102. Upon release of the lever 64, the ball valve 49 under urge of the spring 53 will move to closed position to shut off the flow of air from conduit 200 and through pin 51 move valve 50 from its seat and open vent openings 44 to the return flow from air motor 27, conduit 201, and from valve 150 through conduit 203, reducing valve 202 and conduit 201. Upon a suflicient drop in the air pressure in motor 27, the lever 19 will be swung in the opposite direction by the spring action thereon and through rod 71 move the piston 108 inwardly or towards the bottom of the bore 99. The fluid ahead of the moving piston 108 will as previously de-' scribed flow freely out of bore 99 through bore 107 of valve 103, conduit 82, through hollow valve 135, conduit 81, chamber 100 and through openings 102 into the portion of the bore 99 above the piston 108. As the piston is nearing the end of its stroke in the same direction, the conical portion of valve 103 will be received in the bore 123 of the piston and gradually reduce the space between the walls of the bore 123 and said conical portion and restrict the outward flow of fluid from the bore 99 through opening 107 and thereby check the movement of the piston and apply a gradually increasing resistance to the movement of the lever 19 and thereby the upward swing of the head 18 to the raised position thereof.

Upon the movement of the head 18 to the said initial pressing position, it may be desired to apply an added pressure on the work. To this end and holding the lever 64 in the raised position, the lever 176 may be swung downwardly for its finger 177 to engage and move the stem 175 to move the valve 172 to open position for the air under pressure to now flow through conduits 204, 205 to apply pressure on piston 143 to move its stem 140 to engage valve 135 to block the passage of fluid therethrough. Further movement of the piston 143 in the same direction will apply a pressure on the fluid now trapped between the said valve 135 and the bottom of piston 108 which it is assumed is at a position at the upper end of the bore 99 and with the openings 102 closed thereby. The pressure applied on the said trapped liquid will produce a hydraulic force acting on the piston 108 in a direction to further move the same upwardly and thereby through the previously stated connections apply an added increased pressure on the work. It may be here again pointed out that both levers 64 and 176 must be engaged by the operator for applying an increase of pressure on the work. Releasing lever 64 will permit valve 36 to return to position to vent the system of air in the manner previously described and upon which venting, the pressure on piston 143 will drop to permit return of valve 135 under spring pressure to the normal position and open the passage therethrough of fluid from the lower portion of bore 99 to chamber 100. Assuming the operator to hold the lever 64 in the raised position, now releasing the lever 176 will swing the finger 187 thereon to engage the stem of valve 185 to move said valve open to the atmosphere and the pressure on piston 143 will be vented through conduits 205, 204 and valve now open to atmosphere whereby the increased pressure will be removed from the head. In practice both levers are released at substantially the same instant and the pressure on piston 143 will be vented as above described and the pressure on piston 24 will be vented through valve 36 now open to atmosphere.

In some instances it may be desirable to provide for the increased pressure and hold the same mechanically so as to free the operators hands. To this end, the finger 187 is moved or swung into the position shown in dotted lines indicated 187. Both levers may now be moved at the same time or nearly so. Upon the opening of valve 36 to the supply air pressure, air will flow as previously described to air motor to move piston 29 upwardly, thereby operating the hydraulic cylinder. The valve 172 now being open, a flow of air to the cylinder 143 will be had to move the same and its stem into engagement with the valve 135 to apply a hydraulic force on the piston 108 as previously described. Upon the release of levers 64 and 176, the motor 27 will be vented through open valve 50. However, valve will be closed and block the return flow of pressure from piston 143 and the head 18 will be held in the increased pressure relation until the pressure on piston 143 is released and which may be vented through valve 194 upon pressing of the foot treadle 196 to engage the stern 206 of the valve to move the same to open position to vent said pressure through branch conduit 207 and vent opening 208 to the atmosphere.

It also may be desirable in some instances to arrest the movement of the head 18 at certain positions in its travel towards the buck 17. This may be readily accomplished by moving the finger 187 in the dotted line position thereof and then moving both levers at the same time. Upon releasing of lever 64, the motor 27 will be vented as previously described but the outflow of hydraulic fluid beneath the piston 108 will be blocked by the stem 144 blocking the passage of fluid through valve 135, thus locking or holding the head 18 at any location in its path of travel towards the buck. The head may also be moved step by step by manipulating levers 64, 176 as above described and additionally manipulating lever 64 to alternately open and close the same to the supply conduit 200.

I claim:

1. A garment-pressing machine comprising a pair of pressing members, one being held stationary and the other being movably mounted for movement to and from the other, an air motor for initially moving said movable member towards the other of said members, a first fluid operated means for applying a check to the movement of said movable member at near the end of its stroke towards and from said other member, a second fluid operated means operable for applying a force on the first fluid operated means for additionally moving said movable member towards the other member, a foot treadle, a normally closed valve means for venting said second fluid operated means, a suction valve connected to the stationary held member operable for applying a suction on the work positioned between said members, means for controlling said suction valve engageable and operated by said treadle whereupon movement of said treadle will operate said valve means to vent said second fluid operated means and operate said means for controlling said suction valve.

2. A hydraulic check for a member moving alternately in opposite directions comprising a pivoted lever, said member being attached to one end portion of said lever for swinging movement therewith, a hydraulic cylinder having a piston therein connected to the opposite end portion of said lever and moved in one direction in said cylinder upon said lever being rocked in one direction and moved in the other direction in said cylinder upon said lever being rocked in the other direction, said cylinder having a fluid therein displaced from one side of said piston to the other upon the movement of said piston, said cylinder having a plurality of openings at one end thereof for the flow of fluid therethrough from one side of the piston when moving towards said openings, said openings being spaced from each other and extending helically about said cylinder to be covered one after another by said piston to progressively restrict the flow of fluid therethrough as said piston is advanced in the direction of said openings.

3. In a pressing machine having a pressing member movable to and from the work, actuating means for said member comprising a cylinder and piston air motor for moving said member towards the work, resilient means for moving said member from the work, a cylinder and piston hydraulic check for said member, said hydraulic piston being connected to said member to be reciprocated thereby, a hydraulic fluid reservoir for said hydraulic cylinder, a first passage at one end portion of said hydraulic cylinder for the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from said hydraulic cylinder, a second passage at the other end portion of said hydraulic cylinder for the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from said hydraulic cylinder whereby hydraulic fluid will flow outwardly from said hydraulic cylinder on one side of said hydraulic piston and hydraulic fluid will flow inwardly into said hydraulic cylinder on the other side of said hydraulic piston in response to the movement thereof, a compressed air supply line to said air motor, a first operator-operated control means in the air supply line to supply air under pressure to said air motor to actuate the same to move said member towards the work, said control means being normally in position to exhaust the air from said air motor, compressed air operated means for closing the second passage to the outward flow of hydraulic fluid therethrough, and a second operator-operated control means operable to connect the compressed air supply line with said compressed air operated means to actuate the same to close the said second passage while the first operator-operated control means are in operated position whereby said hydraulic piston will be blocked against movement in the opposite direction upon the exhaust of the air from said air motor upon the release of the said first operatoroperated means from operated position.

4. In a pressing machine having a pressing member movable to and from the work, actuating means for said member comprising a cylinder and piston air motor and a cylinder and piston hydraulic motor to move said memher on the Work successively under light and heavy pressure, said hydraulic piston being connected to said member to be reciprocated thereby during the movement of said member to and from the work, a hydraulic fluid reservoir for said hydraulic cylinder, a first passage at one end portion of said hydraulic cylinder for the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from said hydraulic cylinder, a second passage at the other end portion of said hydraulic cylinder for the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from said hydraulic cylinder whereby hydraulic fluid will flow outwardly from said hydraulic cylinder on one side of said hydraulic piston and hydraulic fluid will flow inwardly into said hydraulic cylinder on the other side of said hydraulic piston in response to the movement thereof, a compressed air supply line to said air motor, a first operator-operated control means in the air supply line to supply air under pressure to said air motor to actuate the same to move said pressing member under light pressure engagement with the work, said control means being normally in position to exhaust the air from said air motor, compressed air operated means for closing the second passage to the outward flow of hydraulic fluid therethrough and for applying pressure to the hydraulic fluid in said hydraulic cylinder including a second member movable in said second passage to displace the hydraulic fluid between second passage and the hydraulic piston,

and a second operator-operated control means operable to connect the compressed air supply line with said compressed air operated means to actuate the same to close the said second passage and apply pressure to the hydraulic fluid between said second passage and the hydraulic piston to move the same and move said pressing member into heavy pressure with the work while the first operator-operated control means are in the operated position.

5. In a pressing machine as set forth in claim 4 in which the second operator-operated control means are operable to exhaust the air from said compressed air operated means.

6. In a garment-pressing machine having a pressing member movable into engagement with the work by compressed air operated means, a compressed air supply line to said compressed air operated means, an operatoroperated control means in said supply line comprising a body having inlet and outlet ports for the passage of compressed air through said body, a first check valve normally closed for controlling the inlet port and subjected to the air pressure at said inlet port tending to move the said valve to the open piston thereof, a second check valve for the outlet port subjected to the pressure from the inlet port tending to move the valve to the closed position, a third port in said body open to the outlet port for venting the supply line between said outlet port and the compressed air operated means, a third check valve for controlling the exhausting of air through said third port and subjected to the pressure at the outlet port tending to move said third valve to closed position, means including a manually operable handle pivotally mounted on said body and having a portion thereof adapted to be moved into engagement with the said second valve to move the same to open position to supply air under pressure to said compressed air operated means, and a movably mounted finger carried by said handle and adapted to be moved into position to engage and move said third check valve to open position upon the movement of said handle to inoperative position and said finger being adapted to be moved to an inoperative position whereby said third valve will remain closed upon the moving of said handle to the inoperative position thereof.

7. A garment pressing machine comprising a pivoted lever, 21 presser member secured at one end to said lever for movement therewith, an air motor having a cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder and having its rod connected directly to the other end of the lever, a hydraulic motor having a second cylinder, a piston movable in said second cylinder and having its rod connected directly to the said other end of said lever, a hydraulic liquid reservoir having a normally open passageway communicating with said second cylinder for the passage of hydraulic fluid in and out of said second cylinder, and means for controlling the flow of motive fluid to the first said cylinder, and means operable to close said passageway and apply a pressure to the hydraulic liquid in said second cylinder to displace the same to move the piston therein.

8. A garment pressing machine according to claim 7 and additional means for progressively blocking the escape of hydraulic liquid ahead of the piston in the said second cylinder at near either end of its stroke during the reciprocation of said piston in said second cylinder.

9. In a garment pressing machine, co-operating elements one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element includinga hydraulic motor having a cylinder with a piston therein having its rod connected to said movable element, a hydraulic liquid reservoir having a normally open passageway communicating with said cylinder and including a slidable hollow piston, and a compressed air operated plunger movable to close the passageway at said hollow piston and to apply a pressure thereon to move the same into and displace the hydraulic fluid trapped in said passageway between said hollow piston and the piston in said hydraulic cylinder.

10. In a garment pressing machine according to claim 9 and a bypass in said passageway provided with a check valve therein for the flow of hydraulic liquid in one direction only through said by-pass.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Pauly Feb. 18, 1930 Davis Apr. 5, 1932 Davis Nov. 1, 1932 Davis Mar. 31, 1936 

